The American Experiment (Riot Quest)

How One Finds Purpose

(Jack Olsen POV)

You looked at Art and felt the need to bring it up again. "You have any family Art?" The question was always one of more sincerity. The Founder of the Sons of the Frontier was an enigma that was always hidden behind a veneer of toughness and silence. The Old Romans would have called him a stoic, but most of the time, there was nothing more than a compilation, but his actions never would have built him into something more.

But nothing could ever breach his exterior. He remained quiet, no longer fostering the anger and hatred that he once held. To see him calm was something that years ago, you would have never seen before. Or even believed.

Art remained quiet, taking a look at the glass of water in front of him. His eyes pondered the question, as he lifted it up, before drinking it. "No." The answer was curt, and nearly a whisper. He did not want to speak of this.

But it had been years, and you never once learned of the man who was somehow captivating people, founding an organization like the Sons of the Frontier… to becoming the man who was downright helping you make the LLRP into something that was, frankly a booming organization. Even with your recent…

Spat with the thinkers, and Gompers. They didn't seem to understand that stagnation, or rather, apathy, was death now. In a changing world where such force was not only against this party's goals but also into achieving them. Clinging to something like a life raft was good when things were good. But sometimes that was not enough.

You did not consider yourself a socialist, or even a labor reformer. You just wanted to help people, because no one helped you. And you had the power to do just that.

But now was not the time to think about what ifs and has-beens. Or how you thought of yourself. You would make your peace with them eventually when you had more power than they did, and they would have to listen to you or lose any support they had, but also remind them that they aren't the ones doing all the damn dirty work. All of you hear and now... They were the ones who you listened to the most.

Not some college boys with fancy titles, who thought they knew better.

"Why are you asking?" Art was still quiet, drinking his water and looking into his reflection as if he was seeing things that he could not see.

"I just want to know." You asked, remaining honest, as the gruff man nodded.

Art only looked at the glass. "I grew up in Dakota, in the Badlands. Father always said we were doing our part in civilizing the savage lands and bringing god and Gospel to the natives. He was just after his Acres of land, to call his own. We were far away from this civilization, and my family only had me to rely on. Marshal always called me and pa away from the farm to part of posses when outlaws attacked, and it taught me how to survive. When I was only 15, I married a girl, her name was Sarah, who grew up twenty miles away, the only other homesteader with a child my age having made a deal after saving each other after a long winter. My parents and hers arranged it. It was a good match all things considered. We both tolerated each other, and we both knew the skills we needed to know." He paused before placing the glass on the table. "We had three children."

There was nearly a break in his voice, as he said that. "They didn't survive their first winter." He was stuck on that final word, and just remembering them seemed to pull him away, back towards a darker, yet somehow happier time. "When I turned 21, we had saved enough money to move east, back towards civilization, and hope that, in a more comfortable and warmer environment, we would be able to start something, to have a family, and build a new life. She wanted to own a store, and have a place to raise a family. So we did, buying up a place, setting it up, and trying our best to make ends meet, with the bloodsuckers who supplied us trying to squeeze every cent from us. She was always the smart one, with the head for numbers, while I was the dumb labor that did as he was told. It was simpler."

You nodded. "Sarah died of Cholera a year later, right after we started our store to support ourselves. Damn near killed me," He paused, looking at his empty water glass for a moment, before pushing it away. "but I just continued the store, her dream. Hoping, and praying that I would meet someone else to fill my heart and tame it. Someone to assist me in running the store. Maybe even to love again. Then those… bastards destroyed my shop. Lost everything at Haymarket. Everything Sarah dreamed about… Those dammed anarchists... I wanted to kill them all, take up a rifle, and deliver justice the only way I knew how."

You remembered how angry he was. How much he wished to arm up and deliver his justice on the streets.

He then stood up. "I hate myself for being that way." But you still saw anger in his eyes, even now, but instead, it was focused. But then his questioning changed, almost like a flipped coin, and his eyes became filled with light and determination. He knew what he had to be, and the angry man was not what was needed. "So. What do you hope will happen this time? Make a wave?"

You smiled, always back to the area that you were skilled at to make you feel better. "The best we can get is a splash... Hopefully. We can only hope that we've learned from our mistakes and that the money would be enough."

"Money can buy a lot of things Jack." There was hope in his voice. And that was the thing that made you remember that he changed the most. "Maybe even a better future."

Maybe.

Maybe.

Even if it didn't, you could make this work this time.

You only hoped it would be enough.
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AN: And Cut!

So, Here is the omake that will be exploring more of the personalities of the LLRP, and maybe give more character to men already brimming with it through their actions, and @Physici wonderful writing.

But I decided to instead try to flesh them out with their past. Why these men were what they were like in the beginning, and changed over time.

And ending it on a note, on their own note of happiness. Preparing for the election to come and that they may be the spoiler or even upset their republican and democratic rivals.

@Physici I only hope that you will grant a Roll bonus to the LLRP this time, instead of changing history. I want to see numbers go up!

Edit: I should say a bonus for the Michigan Election. i really want to see if we can actually do some good.

And to anyone needing help with omakes, shoot me a PM, and I will help as best as I can.


Also: I hope you all like the omake.

Edit: Some edits and other stuff added in.

While I write the update, you may vote for which organization you would like to see grow. You can vote for up to two organizations. This is also a good time to form a new organization, if you wish (max 15 orgs).

[] All-Continental Union Association

[] The Land and Labor Reform Party

[] The Revolutionary Federation of American Anarchists

[] The Forty Acres Movement

[] The Society of Friends of All Faiths

[] American People's Futurist Alliance

[] The Friends of the Huddled Masses

[] The Orange Disciples

[] The New American Patriots

[] The Society for Universal Suffrage

[] Uranus Gathering for People of Queer Orientation and Allies

[] The Minutemen

[] Salon der Geschlechter

[] Southern People's Alliance

[] Appalachian Brotherhood